Op/Ed

Rubio Keeps Promise to Stand Up to Trump

Marco Rubio promised during his campaign for
re-election to the U.S. Senate that he would stand up
to Donald Trump when necessary.

“Necessary” didn’t take long to arrive.

It came Wednesday during a confirmation hearing
for Rex Tillerson, Trump’s choice for Secretary of
State.

Rubio responded with what I thought was his finest
hour as the junior senator from Florida. He showed
plenty of backbone, conviction and passion in
relentlessly hammering Tillerson about his stance (or
non-stance) on Russia’s appalling human rights record.

It was a bold gambit, but it’s one I believe Rubio
made on principle. In so doing he risks the wrath of the
incoming president, not to mention his own Republican
Party.

That showed a truckload of gumption.

Now, I may have to amend the previous sentence if
after all that Rubio toes the GOP line and votes to
confirm Tillerson. I can’t imagine that happening now,
though, and as it stands now, Rubio could be the swing
vote that would lead the powerful Senate Foreign
Relations Committee to turn thumbs-down on Tillerson.

That wouldn’t necessarily doom his appointment, as
the full Senate could confirm him with a simple majority
vote. Republicans hold a 52-46 edge there (with two
independents, who caucus with Democrats).

Taking the political intrigue out of it for a second,
though, Rubio’s action during Wednesday’s hearing backed
up his full-throated condemnation of nations like Russia
and Cuba who rule with torture, murder and a disregard
for human life.

I haven’t agreed with Rubio’s persistent hard-line
stance on Cuba, mostly because I believe the U.S. policy
of sanctions has succeeded only in bringing misery to
the Cuban people. But there is no such ambiguity with
what’s happening with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
and Rubio placed himself squarely on the front line in
the battle to oppose him.

When Tillerson said “I would not reach that
conclusion” after Rubio asked if the nominee considers
Putin a war criminal, what followed was a statement of
fact that was a stinging indictment of what appears to
be president-elect Trump’s position.

“Let me describe the situation in Aleppo, and perhaps
it will help you reach that conclusion,” Rubio said. “In
Aleppo, Mr. Putin has directed his military to conduct a
devastating campaign (assisting the Syrians). He has
targeted schools, markets, and other civilian
infrastructure that has resulted in the deaths of
thousands of civilians.

“This is not the first time Mr. Putin has been
involved in campaigns of this kind. Based on all that,
and what’s publicly in the record about what has
happened in Aleppo … you are still not prepared to say
Vladimir Putin and his military have violated the rules
of war and conducted war crimes in Aleppo?”

Tillerson said those were “serious charges” and he
needed more information.

Rubio shot back, “It should not be hard to say that
Vladimir Putin and his military have conducted war
crimes in Aleppo. It is never acceptable, you would
agree, for a military to specifically target civilians,
which is what’s happening there. … I find it
“discouraging” your inability to cite that…”

But he wasn’t done, following up with, “Do you
believe Vladimir Putin and his cronies are responsible
for the murder of countless dissidents, journalists and
political opponents?”

Tillerson said didn’t have enough information, so
Rubio gave him some.

“Are you aware that people who oppose Vladimir Putin
wind up dead all over the world – poisoned, shot in the
back of the head? Do you think that is coincidental, or
do you that it is possible – or likely, as I believe –
that it was part of an effort to murder his political
opponents?”

Tillerson said he needed more information.

“None of this is classified, Mr. Tillerson. These
people are dead,” Rubio said.

It was a promise kept by Rubio. In Washington, that
is especially unexpected and refreshing.

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Joe Henderson had a 45-year career in
newspapers, including the last nearly 42 years at The
Tampa Tribune. Mr. Henderson has numerous local, state and
national writing awards. He has been married to his
wife, Elaine, for nearly 35 years, and has two grown
sons.
Column courtesy of Florida Politics.

This piece was reprinted by the Columbia County Observer
with permission or license.